Cleo Mazari

From Professional Ballet Dancer to Account Executive

Cleo’s journey to where she is now is a story of dedication and hard work. At the age of 17, she was offered a contract to work as a professional ballet dancer in a ballet company in South Africa. She danced some of the most famous ballet roles, including the Sugarplum Fairy from the Nutcracker, Aurora from Sleeping Beauty, and Kitri from Don Quixote. However, at the age of 24, she made the difficult decision to resign from the company to have more freedom in her life and explore other things she enjoyed. She then moved to London where she worked as a makeup artist for a brand called Charlotte Tilbury before joining TishTash Communications a year and a half ago.

When asked about her current job, Cleo says, “PR really fell into my lap, and I have been running with it ever since. I don’t regret it at all as I have been able to incorporate my knowledge from my previous work experiences together with my passion for beauty and fashion into my job, whilst working with a wonderful team who has invested a lot of time and energy into me.”

Working in PR, Cleo says, can make a difference to her clients’ lives by helping them achieve their goals in their businesses. “We hold a vital role in the success of their business which at times can be stressful, but it pushes me, and I have always enjoyed a challenge,” she adds.

While Cleo enjoys her work, there are still everyday struggles she faces. “Dealing with clients who all have different needs and ways of working can be challenging at times and is probably the daily challenge I face,” she says. Clients can often take advantage or push her to her limits, so she has had to learn where to put up boundaries and when not to.

Outside of work, Cleo values her family time. “Most evenings include me cooking dinner and chatting to my husband, catching up on our days, and winding down, after which we enjoy some chill time on the couch watching a series or movie together while cuddling our puppy, Charlie,” she shares.

Looking back on her journey, Cleo admits that it was a struggle to figure out what she wanted to do with her life after leaving her ballet career. “My husband has really been someone

I have leaned on throughout this process, and is always encouraging me to try new things and to push myself outside of my comfort zone,” she says.

As for her ultimate dream, Cleo says, “I want to continue to grow in my career, and I would love for my husband and I to start a family and to travel the world together. I believe in giving back to the community, so I hope to find a way to do that in the future as well.”

Elli Kasabi, the founder of Elli Junior, a business that specializes in designer baby products. Elli Kasabi is a Persian-born Swedish national who moved to Dubai nine years ago. She obtained a Master’s Degree in Finance and worked as a Corporate Account Manager for a major Swedish bank for over a decade before transitioning into the media industry.

Elli had a difficult time finding a job that would allow her to juggle work and motherhood after the birth of her youngest daughter. She noticed a gap in the market for premium designer baby products and decided to start her own business. Elli Junior was born, and she took the exclusivity rights for the middle east market for many Swedish brands that were not previously available.

In an interview, Elli shares her experiences and insights about Dubai, her business, and life in general.

When asked about her educational background, Elli states, “After completing my Master’s Degree in Finance, I worked as a Corporate Account Manager for a major Swedish bank for over 10 years.” Elli has also been working since she was 14-15 years old, earning around AED 100 a day.

Elli talks about her experience living in Dubai, “It was hard to adjust at first, growing up in Sweden in a very open-minded country and freedom of speech, and everyone is equal to a more closed-minded nation. It took time to adjust, but today, I am grateful for the country, its opportunities and mix of so many nationalities. It’s amazing, and you learn something new every day.”

Elli lives in JBR and loves the beach and the crowd. When asked about her favorite part of Dubai, she says, “I like to live in busy places. You have life, and you feel alive. After a stressful day, you can take a walk at the beach or go down for a drink, and you feel good.”

Elli mentions that her children’s activities are her out-of-work activities. However, she hopes to find her passion soon.

Before starting her business, Elli worked in the finance and banking industry. However, she says that she is “exactly where [she] belongs, to build a brand, to grow it, and to make it successful.” Elli saw potential in the